EIL Intercultural Learning

November Network Weekend

Time to say Goodbye

My time at the EIL office in Cork is nearly over. As I was hoping at the beginning the time at EIL teached me lots of things. I wish I could turn back time!

Four weeks of Intercultural Experience teached me what motivated and purposeful people can change. Their work make a difference! So I am proud and deeply grateful that I could be part of EIL. In my opinion the mission of EIL deserves to be supported. Because EIL offers you the chance to see behind the curtain and to make changes.

Hi everyone,

my real name is Gianfranco Mingione, but my friends call me Joe! I'm 28 years old and I am doing an interniship at the EIL Intercultural Learning office of Ireland based in Cork City in the south of Ireland. I started work at the EIL office two days ago. The first day of work was for me very important. I was really nervous but the first impression was positive.

Impressions of Ireland

 I have been in Ireland for one week now. More precisely I am doing an internship at the “EIL Intercultural Learning” office of Ireland situated in Cork City in the south of Ireland for four weeks. It is the first time for me being in Ireland and it is amazing. But how time flies!

Marian Kelly (Administrative Officer) and Marius Kulmer (Intern from Germany) working at the EIL Office in Cork.

Karen O'Regan from Ballyheigue in Co. Kerry received her EIL Travel Award from Mr. Billy Kelleher TD, Minister for Trade and Commerce. Karen will spend her summer as a volunteer with young people in Mexico. She is a student at the University of Limerick.

Anton Kieffer from EIL with some young people who will take part in the Ireland Hong youth Exchange Programme 2009.

Mr. Billy Kelleher TD, Minister for Trade and Commerce with some winners of the EIL Travel Awards 2009.

We now know that the first EIL activity in Ireland was on July 1st 1964 when 10 American students and a group leader landed at Shannon Airport to commence an 8 week adventure in Ireland. John McNichols who was the leader of that group spent the last few weeks in Ireland and we had the privilege to spend some time with him and to hear his stories. He says that in 1964 the group were known wherever they visited in Ireland as they had made two appearances on RTE TV. Of course this was in the days of black and white TV in a country with just one channel. How things have changed.